Easter

noun

Eas·​ter ˈē-stər 

: a feast that commemorates Christ's resurrection and is observed with variations of date due to different calendars on the first Sunday after the paschal full moon

Examples of Easter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Smash actor announced the news of her birth on Easter Sunday alongside a photo slideshow of his newborn baby girl and her mama. —Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 15 May 2025

The Tar Heels recently added Shamar Easter from Arkansas. —Grace Raynor, New York Times, 15 May 2025

While the Easter holiday shift from March last year to April this year may be a factor, as well as pre-tariff shopping, Placer.ai’s Shira Petrack doesn’t think this explains it all. —Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025

Russia effectively rejected a 30-day unconditional truce; the Kremlin instead declared two short, unilateral ceasefires for holidays in the last two months -– one for 30 hours at Easter and another for 72 hours to coincide with Russia’s World War II Victory Day celebrations. —Dasha Litvinova, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English estre, from Old English ēastre; akin to Old High German ōstarun (plural) Easter, Old English ēast east

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing Easter

• Easter basket
• Easter bunny
• Easter egg
• Easter lily
• Easter Monday

Kids Definition

Easter

noun

Eas·​ter ˈē-stər 

: a Christian holiday celebrating Christ's resurrection that is observed on the first Sunday following the first full moon on or after March 21